Refrigerating apparatus



Aug. 25, 1936. J. A. MACREADYEI' AL 2,051,874

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 ,ZL/h/m L/hz Aug. 25, 1936. J.A. MACREADY ET'AL 2,051,

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 29, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet 2g- 3 J. A. MACREADY ET AL 5 ,874

REFRIGERAT ING APPARATUS Original Filed Sept. 29, 1923 4 Sheets-Sheet s1936- J. A. MACREADY ET AL 2,051,874

REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Patented Aug. 1936 UNITED. STATES REFBIGEBA TINGAPPARATUS- John A. Macready and De Witt H. Wyatt, Dayton, Ohio,assignors, .by mesne assignments, to General Motors Corporation, acorporation of Delaware Application September 29, 1928, Serial No.309,216 Renewed April '19, 1935 3 6 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerating apparatus and more particularlyto an apparatus for cooling beverages, such as drinking water.

This application relates to water coolers, for instance of the typedescribed in our Patent 'No. 1,847,092.

An object of this invention is to provide a mechanical water coolerencased in a readily accessible cabinet.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cabinet having readilyremovable panels for ac cess into the interior. 7

Another object of this invention is to provide a sanitary top for awater cooling apparatus.

Another object of this invention is to provide a cabinet in which thesides and top may be made of porcelain enameled sheet metal, and inwhich the panels may be readily removed for access into the interior ofthe cabinet.

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will be apparentfrom the following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearlyshown.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a water cooling apparatusembodying features of this invention; I

Fig. 7 is a horizontal cross-sectional view,.

slightly enlarged, taken alongthe plane i of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is an .enlarged cross-sectional view of a detail of the apparatustaken along the line 8-8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged vertical cross-section of a top portion of theapparatus;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged horizontal cross-section taken along the lineIll-40 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 11 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a. slightly modified formof apparatus;

Fig. 12 is a vertical cross-sectional view of the top portion for theapparatus shown in Fig. 1-1; and i Fig. 13 is a diagrammatic view of aportion of the apparatus shown in Figs. 11 and 12.

Referring for the present more particularly to Figs. 1 to 10, inclusive,a refrigerating apparatus embodying features of this invention maycomprise a water coclirm cabinet generally designated as 2U.- Mounted onand within this cabinet is a water cooling system generally designatedas 2|,

and shown more or less diagrammatically in. Fig. 6. The water coolingsystem is so related to the cabinet 20 that the parts of the watercooling system 2| which are liable to necessitate adjustment or repairs;or which must be assembled within the cabinet, are readily accessibletherein. The cabinet '20 and the system 2| are thus corelated to furnisha very efiicient water cooling apparatus. i

The cabinet 20 may comprise metal-framework having vertical corner angleirons 22 joined at the top by horizontal corner angle irons 23. Thebottoms of the angle irons 22 may be joined by .horizontal corner angleirons 24. If desiredQthe horizontal angle irons 24 may be provided withornamental pedestal members 25. The pedestal members 25 may be providedwith horizontal attaching plates 26 through'which bolts 21 may I pass inorder to attach the same to the angle irons 24. The pedestal members 25may be provided with an L-shaped extension 28 adapted to form a. channel29 for receiving the bottoms of the panels hereinafter to be more fullydescribed to form one specific embodiment of quickly detachable panelsecuring means. The angle iron members of the frame may be joined at thecorners in any suitable manner and may be reinforced by gussets 30,which may be riveted or spot-welded to the angle irons of the frame.

The frame heretofore described, or any other suitable frame, may havemounted thereon the panel structure of the cabinet. The panel structuremay comprise two vertical panels 3! and two vertical panels 32. Some ofthese panels, for instance the two panels 3|, may be provided withvertical flanges 33 at their vertical edges. Some of the panels, forinstance panels 32, may be provided with substantially straight edges,although these edges may be slightly oifset as at 34 to enhance theappearance and efficiency of the joint thus formed. When assembled, thepanels 3| and 32 are adapted to interlock at the corners, and, in thisparticular embodiment, the flanges 33 fit over the straight edges of thepanels 32, overlapping to adjacent the ofi'set portions 34. The loweredges of some or all of the panels are adapted to fit in the channels29, and, for convenience, the bottoms of the panels may be offset at 35in order to provide an efilcient joint with the channels 29. .Theflanges 33 may terminate at the offset portion 35, and thus the flanges33 do.

not extend below their lower edges 36. /The panels thus assembled areheld from spreading apart ll) of the flange 38. Thus the panels, whenthey are to be removed, may be lifted slightly so that their lower edgesare lifted above the L-shaped extension 23. The lower portion of eachpanel may be then swung outwardly and the entire panel swung slightlydownwardly in order to remove its upper edge from under the flange 3B.In this particular embodiment, either one of the panels 3i may be firstremoved without disturbing other panels. Also after removing both of thepanels 3!, either one of the panels 32 may be removed. It is thusapparent that the side panel structure of the cabinet may be assembledwithout the use of screws, bolts or other fastening devices of thatcharacter, and that the panels may be removed almost instantaneously.

If the mechanical refrigerating system includes an air-coolingcondenser, or if it is otherwise desirable, louvers 4! may be struckeither outwardly or inwardly in the, panels for permitting circulationof air into the cabinet. These louvers are also convenient when removingthe panels, as they may be used as handles for the purpose. It

is obvious that the louvers may be omitted and handles of some othercharacter may be provided if desired.

The top plate 31 may be of any suitable construction, but in thisparticular embodiment, it is preferred to have a substantially flatportion 50' from which the downwardly directed bowl 5i may be integrallypressed. The flange 38 may be integrally formed by providing the curvedportion 40 which also acts as a rim for preventing water from runningdown the side of the cabinet if it should be splashed on portion 50. Thepanels 31, 32 and the top 31 may be formed of porcelain enameled sheetmetal and thus present a very attractive appearance as well as a verysanitary construction. The bottom of the bowl 5| may be provided with acountersunk opening 52 to which the drain fitting 53 may be attached.The drain fitting 53 is of any suitable construction, and may include alower flanged structure 54 having threaded engagement with an upperflanged structure 55 adapted to pinch between their edges the peripheryof the countersunk opening 52.

Another opening 56 may be provided along the slanting portion of thebowl 5!. Through this opening a bubbling cup fitting 51 may be.attachedto the top 31. The fitting 51 may include a water discharge nozzle 59having a lip guard 59 provided with an opening 50 through which thestream from the nozzle 58 is adapted to pass. The guard 59 may also beprovided with openings 5| to permit the fitting to drain completely. Theupper part of the fitting 51 has a flanged and threaded engagement withthe lower portion 62 of the fitting and these two portions are adaptedto engage between them with-suitable gaskets, if necessary,

the portion of the bowl surrounding the opening 55. The fixture 51 isadapted to be connected by suitable tubing to a combined automaticpressureregulator and valve 63. The valve is adapted to be moved by aspring returned handle 64. The fitting 63 is also of the flanged andthreaded engagement .type adapted to engage a portion of the plate 31 inthe manner heretofore described for fittings 53 and 51. An automaticpressureregulator within the fitting-limits the pressure-on the nozzle58. The fitting 63 is connected by means of flexible copper tubing 65with a water cooling tank generally designated as 35 It is alsoconnected by flexible tubing 61 with the fitting 51. Thus it is seenthat water delivered from the tank 66 to the fitting 53 is delivered tothe fitting 5? when the valve is operated. The stream leaving the nozzle58 is directed upwardly in a slanting direction so that it does not fallback on the fitting 51 but falls on some portion of the bowl 5| andforms at its apex the desired stream for permitting a person to drinkwithout touching the fixture 51. The maximum pressure permitted by theautomatic pressure-regulator prevents the stream from being directedbeyond the periphery ofthebowl5l.

The top plate 31 may be moved slightly upwardly when desired merely byunscrewing the top portion 55 of the drain fitting 53. Since theconnections between the plate 31 and thetankSG are flexible, the topplate 31 may be moved relatively to the tank 65 and to the frame'of thecabinet. If desired the drain fitting 53 may be rigidly secured to theframe by means of a U- shaped metal piece 658 to which the lower portion55 of the drain fitting 53 may be bolted. If desirable, suitablecushioning means 69 may be interposed between the plate 31 and the topangle irons 23. The pipe connections can thus be made between the top 31and the tank 65 and the top may then be lowered into place.

The water cooling mechanism may be of any suitable construction. Forinstance it may include a substantially cylindrical tank 10 providedwith insulation H which may be held in place by a substantiallycylindrical outer casing 12. The outer casing I2 may have telescopingtherewith a cover 13 which may be removed together with its insulation14, for instance of 'kapok, in order to permit access to the float valveplate 15 of the water cooling element or evaporator 75. The cover I3 maybe provided with a notch Tl which permits the refrigerant lines 18 and19 to pass to the water cooling element 85. The tank 10 may becylindrical and may be provided with an end plate to which the watercooling element may be secured. The water cooling element 16 may be ofthe character disclosed in the patent to R. G. Osborn, No. 1,556,798,patented October the patent to Osborn. If desired-the boiler 3| may beremoved from the tank by releasing. the

- bolts 83 which secure the flange 82 to the plate 80.

The water from any suitable supply enters the tank'lll through the inlet85 and leaves the tank through the outlet 86. Either the inlet or theoutlet 86 may be positioned at a point where the water is last to freezeshould the water in the tank Ill be accidentally frozen. This is inaccordance with the disclosure in our patent herederneath thecylindrical casing I2.

A pan 88 may be suspended from the casing I2 in order to catch anycondensation which may form on the casing I2. However, under somecircumstances the heat generated by the compressor, hereinafter to bedescribed; may be sufficient to prevent the formation of enoughcondensation to cause the same to drip in the pan 88. If any water flowsinto the pan it' is evaporated by the heat from the compressor or by theair flowing through the cabinet.

The liquid cooling unit 10 may be of the volatile or unvolatilerefrigerent type. In this particular embodiment, it may be a fioatvalve-controlled evaporator of the type disclosed in the patent toOsborn. The evaporator 16 may be supplied with liquid refrigerant fromany suitable source. For instance, it may be supplied with liquidrefrigerant by a refrigerant liquefying unit which may be located withinthe cabinet 20, if desired. The refrigerant liquefying unit may comprisea compressor 9i delivering compressed refrigerant to a condenser 92which delivers liquefied refrigerant to a receiver 93. The liquidrefrigerant in the receiver 93 may be delivered by the pipe 18 to theevaporator I8. The refrigerant evaporated in the evaporator 76 may bereturned by the pipe 79 to the compressor 9I, preferably in thecrankcase. of the compressor. The compressor 9I may be driven bya motor94 which may be connected by the belt with the compressor 9|. Themotor95 may be started and stopped by means of a snap switch 96 operatedby an expansible bellows 91 which may be connected with the evaporatedrefrigerant line I9 by means of the pipe 98. The motor 94 may beprovided with a fan 99 which is adapted to cause circulation of air forthe cooling of the condenser 92, the compressor 9| and the motor 94. Therefrigerant liquefying unit 90 may be mounted on a substantiallybox-like angle iron frame I00 which may be provided with pedestals IOIadapted to rest on rubber mountings I02 and which may be laterallyspaced from the frame by means of rubber cushions I03. However, therefrigerant liquefying unit may be of the type disclosed in theapplication of John A. Macready for Refrigerating apparatus Serial No.308,927, filed September 28, 1928.

The tank 10 maybe provided with drain means I04 which may be coupled bymeans of the coupling I05 with the drain I06 leading from the drainfitting 53. A suitable valve may be included in the drain fitting I04which may be normally closed, but which may be opened it it is desiredto drain the tank I0.

The water cooling apparatus may be slightly modified. For instance itmay be of the type disclosed in Figs. 11, 12 and 13 in which there aretwo water outlets H0 and III. The water outlet IIO may be of thebubbling cut type and may be controlled by the combined valve andpressure regulator H2. The fittings H2, and 63 and III may have a waterregulator which maintains a substantially constant pressure on theirrespective discharge fittings and thus limits the pressure of the streamleaving these fittings. The fitting l II may be of the type ordinarilyused to fill tumof the well-known character, which opens'the valve 4 bythe contact at 5. V The valve II4 may be provided withan automaticpressure regulating valve. 2 In this particularembodiment, the top plate3'Ia;-has the two bowls Sla and 5Ib. These two bowls are symmetricalwith respect to each other. Thus either thetype of fitting III or thetype of fittings I I0 and I I2 may be installed in either of. the bowls5Ia or 5Ib. The opening IIG may be plugged when type of fitting III is-used or it may be used for the fitting IIO while at the same time theopening III would be used for a valve fitting such as I I2. It is thusseen that these fittings are interchangeable in either of the bowls 5Iaor 5Ib. The panel structure for the water cooling apparatus disclosed inFigs. 11 to 13 is substantially the same asthat heretofore disclosedwith the exception that the top plate 37a is made for a double wateroutlet. The drain fittings 53a are connected by means of U-shaped angleirons 68a to the upper angle iron members 23a. The tank 10a is connectedby means of flexible tubing 05a and 65b with the fittings III and H2 inorder that the plate 3Ia.may be moved 'upwardly merely by the removal ofthe drain I27 connected by apipe I28 with the evaporated refrigerantline I24. Water from any suitable supply is delivered by a pipe I30 tothe condenser control switch I3; which is operated by an expansiblebellows I32 which is connected to the refrigerant pressure line I33.Thus water is delivered through the pipe I34 to the condenser I2|whenever required by the portion of the condenser I20. Another branchI35 from the pipe I30 delivers water to the tank 10awhere it is cooledby the evaporator I23. The cooled water is delivered by the pipe I35 tothe fittings H0 and III. The valve II2 controls the flow of water to thefitting IIO. Waste lines I06a lead from the bowls 5Ia and 5Ib. These areconnected to the drain pipe I50 which also receives the discharge fromthe condenser MI by means of apipe III connected to the water jacket ofthe condenser I2I. The structure of the modification shown in Figs.'11to 13 inclusive is more particularly described, in some respects, in ourpatent hereinbefore referred to. The lower pedestal structure I50 maydiffer slightly from the pedestals 25. In this particular embodiment,

described.

The evaporator I23 may be of the type more fully described in the patentto Jesse G. King No. 1,929,697 issued October 10, 1933. The fins-I23a inthe evaporator may be made of a shape to render the evaporator readilyinsertable in and removable from the tank Illa. For instance, the hasl28a. may be circular. having approximately the same diameter as thecylindrical float chamber to which the numeral I23 has been appliedcondensation on the waste water bowls. By making the bowls integral withthe top and countersunk therein, the heat from the machinery preventscondensation on the bowls.

While the form of embodiment of the invention as herein disclosed,constitutes a preferred form, it is to be understood that other formsmight be adopted, all coming within the scope of the claims whichfollow.

What is claimed is as follows:

1. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a frame within which arefrigerating mechanism may be placed having uprights and panel rests,said rests having notches for preventing outward movement of the panels,panels having substantially flat vertical edges and panels having bentvertical edges, the bent vertical edges fltting over the flat edges, anda top having downwardly directed portions for preventing the out- ,wardmovement of said panels, said top being supported on said uprightsindependently of said panels to permit upward movement of said panelssufficlent to move said panels above said notches without movement ofsaid top for the removal of said panels.

2. A refrigerating apparatus" comprising a frame within which arefrigerating mechanism may be placed, four vertical side panels on thevertical sides of said frame having locking engagement at their loweredges with said frame,

the vertical edges of said panels overlapping each other, each of saidpanels being freely movable ;vertically to effect said lockingengagement but being locked against horizontal movement by said lockingengagement.

3. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a frame adapted to rest on thefloor and including vertical uprights, a top carried by said frame, saidtop having a downwardly directed circumferential flange, panels having alocking engagement with said frame engageable and disengageable byaosasva hind said flange and being movable vertically under aid flangeto engage and disengage said panels on said frame, one of said panelshaving a vertical edge extending over a vertical edge of the other ofsaid panels.

4. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a frame adapted to rest on thefloor and including vertical uprights, a top carried by said frame, saidtop having a downwardly directed circumferential flange, panels withtheir main surfaces substantially at right angles to each other andhaving a locking engagement with said frame engageable and disengageableby a. vertical movement of said panels, said panels having their upperedges normally extending behind said flange and being movable verticallyunder said flange to engageand disengage said panels on saidframe, oneof said panels having a vertical edge extending over a vertical edge ofthe other of said panels.

5. A refrigerating apparatus comprising a frame within which arefrigerating mechanism may be placed having four corner uprights andpanel rests below the top of said frame, panels in four difierent planesremovably positioned on said frame and having means engageable with saidpanel rests to prevent outward movement of the bottom of said panels andhaving automatically releasable interlocking" means along their verticaledges, and a top covering said uprights and having downwardly directedportions forpreventing the outward movement of the top of said panels,said top being supported on said uprights independently of said panelsto permit upward movement of said panels sufficient to move said panelsout of engagement with frame within which a refrigerating mechanism maybe placed, an outer wall vertical panel removably mounted on said frameand having a flat vertical edge at one corner of the apparatus, meansforming a portion of the outer wall of said apparatus and having avertical flange overlapping the flat vertical edge of said panel, andstationary means permanently associated with said frame for releasablyretaining said first mentioned means against lateral displacement, saidfirst mentioned means being removable by vertical movement relative tosaid frame and said second mentioned means while said panel and secondmentioned means remain stationary.

' JOHN A. MACREADY. DE WI'II H. WYA'I'I.

